Karnataka BJP legislator held while taking bribe

Bangalore, Jan 29 (IANS) A legislator of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka was caught Thursday taking a bribe of Rs.500,000 to close a criminal case, causing huge embarrassment to the BJP, an official of the state ombudsman said.Y. Sampangi, who was arrested Thursday, represents Kolar Gold Fields, about 70 km from Bangalore.

“Yes. He has been arrested while accepting the bribe, Rs.50,000 in cash and the rest in self cheques,” Santosh Hegde, retired judge of the Supreme Court who heads the Karnataka Lokayukta (anti-corruption ombudsman) said.

Hegde said the Lokayukta police nabbed Sampangi from the legislators’ hostel, less than a km from the state secretariat building Vidhana Soudha.

The man who was giving the bribe, for getting the criminal case against him closed, has been identified only as Farooq.

Farooq informed Lokayukta about the deal he had struck with the legislator which helped the police catch the legislator red handed, Hegde said.

Hegde said the Lokayukta will inform the state assembly speaker about the arrest of the legislator.

“Once the investigation is over, a charge sheet will be filed under anti-corruption laws,” he added.